Inside the Chalk

After a fast start to the 2026 campaign, the Miami Marlins have come back down to earth and have now lost 3 straight and 7 of their last 10. Tonight they will have their work cut out for them when they head to Truist Park to open a 3-game set with the NL East leading Atlanta Braves. The Braves are coming off a 13-1 shellacking of the Cleveland Guardians and are averaging 5.6 runs per game which is fourth in the majors. They are expected to send Grant Holmes to the hill and he has been throwing strikes. Holmes is 1-1 with an excellent ERA of 2.55 and a WHIP to match, at 1.08. The Marlins, who are a dismal 1-5 on the road, are expected to hand the ball to Eury Pérez. He comes in at 1-1 with an elevated 5.06 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Braves are 6-3 at home, have won 5 of the last 6 meetings with the Marlins, and should be the victor tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will play the rubber game of their 3-game set in a matinée today at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals are currently a home dog today and that is perplexing. The Red Sox are just 2-6 away from Fenway and are expected to send right-hander Brayan Bello to the hill, and he has been getting lit up. Bello is 0-1 on the season with a bloated 9.00 ERA, a 2.50 WHIP, and is 0-1 in his career against St. Louis with an ERA of 9.64. The Cardinals are 5-3 at Busch and are expected to give the nod to righty Andre Pallante. Pallante has been in the zone. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and is 1-1 in his career against Boston with an ERA of 2.84. St. Louis is averaging 4.5 runs per game, Boston averages 3.8, and the Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games against a right-handed starter.
TODAY’S PICK: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

With last night’s 3-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at the Trop, the New York Yankees have now lost three straight but get back on the rails tonight when they play the middle game of their 3-game set. The Yankees are expected to have their ace on the hill, Max Fried, and he rarely loses. The southpaw is once again doing what he does best and that is deliver. Fried is 2-0 with an ERA of only 1.35 and a 0.75 WHIP over 20 innings of work. Tampa is expected to counter with Nick Martinez who has good numbers. Martinez is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP over 12 innings of work. New York has scored just 5 runs over their 3-game skid so they are due for a big night. Despite last night’s loss, the Bombers are still 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with the Rays. New York won’t come cheap but is still worth considering.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

After a 7-game road trip the Atlanta Braves return home tonight to Truist Park to open a 3-game set with the Cleveland Guardians. Both the Braves and the Guardians sit atop of their respected divisions, Cleveland in the AL Central and Atlanta in the NL East. Atlanta usually gets the better of Cleveland, winning 4 straight and 6 of the last 7. The trend should continue tonight. The Braves’ expected starter, Bryce Elder, is off to a stellar start, coming in at 1-1 with an ERA of 0.00 (that is not a typo) and a WHIP of only 0.85. The Guardians are expected to counter with Slade Cecconi and the Braves hot bats should be able to get to him. Cecconi is 0-1 with an elevated 5.23 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Atlanta averages 5.1 runs per game which is 6th in the league in runs scored with Cleveland averaging 3.5 which ranks 23rd. The Braves also have the edge in batting average, hits, homers, and have the lowest team ERA in the majors at 2.04.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants will play the middle game of their 3-game set tonight at Oracle Park. Philadelphia won the first game and will do the same tonight. Cristopher Sánchez is expected on the bump for the Phillies and he delivers. In 11.1 innings of work this year, Sánchez has an ERA of only 0.79 and a 0.97 WHIP. The Giants are expected to counter with southpaw Robby Ray. Ray’s best days are behind him, and the Phillies crush left-handed pitching.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES